Chad Jeudy-Hugo

Trainee Consultant with a Swedish Public Affairs and Communications Firm

Who are you and where are you from?

My name is Chad Jeudy-Hugo, I'm 29 years old and I hail from Ottawa, Canada. I did the IEP degree from September 2005 - August 2006, and graduated in November of that year.

Why did you decide to do the IEP degree?

After graduating in political science from the University of Guelph in Canada, I knew that I wanted to further my studies in international relations. Having focused on the politics of the European Union during my undergrad, I looked for programmes abroad in Europe that offered the specialisation that I was looking for. After researching a number of options, I found that the IEP degree at the University of Edinburgh offered the most practical and focused option in terms of course content and professor expertise. I was also drawn by the international composition of the student body and the resources at hand.

What were your best memories?

The lasting friendships that I made with my fellow classmates were undoubtedly the highlight of my studies in Edinburgh. Our retreat early in the academic year stands out as a particular success, as does lounging around the Meadows on warm summer days and taking in the madness that was the World Cup in July. In terms of course content, I enjoyed the classes on international political economy, EU political economy, and the foreign relations of the EU. I also appreciated the small size of the tutorials that enabled close contact with our professors and teaching assistants.

What do you do now, and how did the degree help in your career path?

I am currently working in Brussels as a trainee consultant with a Swedish public affairs and communications firm. The IEP degree was instrumental in landing me my current job as it equipped me with the necessary knowledge and understanding of EU politics that my current employers were looking for. In addition, the university also helped me to land an internship at the Scottish Parliament during my studies, which led indirectly to my current job via public affairs work in Edinburgh and a stage placement at the European Commission in Brussels.

How did you like Edinburgh as a city?

I was told that Edinburgh was a cracking city in which to live and study, and it certainly did not disappoint!! The city is beautiful from an architectural standpoint, and is generally buzzing year round from Burns Night to Hogmanay celebrations to the festival in August. As such, there is always an outlet to give the books a rest to soak up the Scottish experience. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to recommend studying in Edinburgh - it will probably turn out to be the time of your life!